Special Holiday Markets This Weekend PLUS Upcoming Holiday Markets Schedule

A few markets offer special one-day-only Holiday Markets that

My Daughter’s Favorite Flavor of Spinning Spider Chevre

take place this Saturday and on upcoming Saturdays. (See Schedule Below) Some Tailgate Markets are still ongoing as usual. Many Tuesday/Wednesday markets have their last official market day the Tuesday/Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Some markets feature a number of ongoing Holiday Market days. You can go directly to the Markets tab to check out what’s going on with your favorite neighborhood market…or see below for a concise list.

Don’t have time to make it yourself? Buy something wonderful that is made with love…at the Tailgate Markets. Think ahead.  Support a local Tailgate Market vendor instead of a grocery store for truly homemade foods. Plus your loyal farmers/vendors have to buy Christmas presents for their families too, right? Order something delicious and homemade for Thanksgiving dinner – savory or sweet – apple and pumpkin pies, and incredible breads and crackers, come right to mind. Gather up some traditional root vegetables. One of my favorite Thanksgiving treats ever was Red Russian kale sprinkled with artisanal balsamic vinegar…very yum! Oh, and remember the eggs for making savory corn pudding.

SCHEDULE

Includes One-Day-Only Holiday Markets, Ongoing Holiday Markets, and upcoming Last Market Days. See Markets tab for additional location info.

Farm & Sparrow Bread

One-Day Only HOLIDAY MARKETS:

These are special one-time-only Holiday Market events, offering additional food vendors and featuring more crafts and gift-y items, along with wonderful holiday foods.

Black Mountain Tailgate Market

Pre-Thanksgiving Holiday Market, Saturday, Nov. 17, 10-1, same location

Mills River Tailgate Market

Holiday Market, Saturday, Nov. 17, 8-12, same location

Spruce Pine Farmers Market, indoors at Mountainside Wine at 271 Oak Ave.

Saturday, Dec. 1, 11-4,

Flat Rock Tailgate Market

Holiday Market, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2-5, same location

LAST MARKET DAY ALERT! just before Thanksgiving. Order those homemade pies and goodies, and get delicious savories for Thanksgiving Day. Don’t forget about meats, cheeses, root vegetables, crackers, and glorious artisan bread.

Leicester Tailgate Market, 338 Leicester Hwy., indoors

Saturday, Nov. 17, 10-3

West Asheville Tailgate Market

Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2:30-5:30, same location

French Broad Food Coop Wednesday Market

Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2-6, same locations…possibly a few vendors will continue

Montford Farmers Market

Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2-5:30, same location

ONGOING HOLIDAY MARKETS & Tailgate Markets

These markets include extra vendors for the holidays, including more craftspeople and gift-y items, wonderful foods, vegetables, meats, cheeses, baked goods, honey and molasses, chocolate, and more.

Asheville City Market

CLOSED Saturday, Nov. 17 for Christmas Parade

OPEN Saturday, Dec. 1, 8, & 15, 8-1, same location

Beautiful Gaining Ground Farm Veggies

Ashe County Farmers Market

Saturday, Nov. 17, 24 & Dec. 1, plus Friday, Nov. 23, 10-2, same location

Bakersville Farmers Market

Open second Saturdays from Dec. to May from 10-2 at Historic Courthouse

Grow Down Home Farmers Market, indoors in Black Mountain,

Dec. 1, 8, 15, & 22, 10-1

Holiday Bazaar at North Asheville Tailgate Market

Dec 1, 8, 15, & 22, 11-3, UNCA from Noon to 4

Jackson County Farmers Market

Saturday, now thru April 6, 10-1, indoors at the Community Table

Madison County Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market

Saturdays, Nov. 17 & 24, and Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 9-1, indoors at Fiddlestix

Marion Tailgate Market

Tuesday, Nov. 20, 27 and Dec. 4, 11, & 18 from 3-6, and Friday, Dec. 21, 9-12

North Asheville Tailgate Market hosting the Holiday Bazaar

Saturday, November 17 & 24, and Dec. 1, 8, 15, & 22 from Noon to 4

Transylvania County Tailgate Market

Ron Gagliano’s Sauce

Saturday, Nov. 17 & 24, Dec. 1, 8, 15, & 22

Weaverville Tailgate Holiday Market,

Indoors at Lake Louise Community Center

Wednesday, Nov. 21 & 28, and Dec. 5, 12, & 19, 2:30-6:30,

Yancey County Farmers Market

Saturday, Nov. 17 & 24, Dec. 1, 8, & 15, 8:30-12:30

Was your market left out? Leave a comment and I will update!

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First Tomatoes & Totally Tailgate Sandwich

Tom and Karen had TOMATOES today! I rarely buy tomatoes out of season, so the first time I see them at the market I get pretty excited. I started at the opposite end of the market this morning. By the time I

Wake Robin Ciabatta, Thatchmore Farm Tomatoes, Spinning Spider Chevre, & My Garden Lettuce

realised that Thatchmore Farm had tomatoes, there were only two tomatoes left. I snapped them up.

I came home to work in my garden looking forward to my first tomato sandwich of the season. The bread, a whisper of Rosemary-Fig Chevre, and the tomatoes were from the Tailgate Market. I picked the lettuce from my garden just before making my sandwich.

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WINTER TAILGATE MARKET at Y ~ Grand Opening Saturday

This Saturday (February 4) is the grand opening of a NEW, yes new WINTER TAILGATE MARKET at the Neighborhood Y in Woodfin (located indoors in the YMCA’s Multipurpose Room) from 10 to Noon.

That’s right. The market is only open for two short hours late on a Saturday morning. But isn’t that about perfect? You can sleep in, and then snuggle into your sofa sipping hot coffee and pondering the mysteries of the universe…or maybe watch a few cartoons. And then finish out this leisurely morning at the Winter Tailgate Market indoors ~ enjoying another cup of coffee and munching on some sort of wonderful pastry. Wander the other booths and fill your bag with all the tailgate goodies you have been longing for since Christmas. Goat cheese…fresh eggs…crusty bread…local meat…homemade pasta, and more. Sounds fabulous, right? Ends at noon!

Here is a stab at the vendor list:

Farm & Sparrow Bakery (great bread and baked goods), Hickory Nut Gap Farm (meats), Spinning Spider Creamery (goat cheeses), East Fork Farm (meat and eggs), Sweetheart Bakery (sweet and savory baked goods), Lady Luck Farm, Pasta Mama (fresh pasta), Asheville Coffee Roasters, and more!

A portion of the vendors’ profits will benefit a good cause ~ the Y’s Healthier Communities Campaign. The YMCA is located at 40 Merrimon Avenue.

The market will run through the end of March.

 

Do you live near Barnardsville in North Buncombe County? Visit Dillingham Winter Market on Saturday too…from 9-1.

They will have honey, fresh coffee and coffee beans, romaine and spicy salad mix, crafts, knitted scarves and hats, fresh eggs, beef, chicken, lamb, and more.

Farm & Sparrow Loaf

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City Market South Open Indoors Now! And More Market Info

Get your tailgate market fix! Asheville City Market South is open indoors now. It sounds like they had a fabulous turnout last week (their first week indoors). Goat cheese lovers – I saw on their Facebook page that Spinning Spider Creamery will be attending this week. It is from 2-6 every Wednesday at Biltmore Park Town Square (near REI).

https://www.facebook.com/AshevilleCityMarket

Other Market News:

Wednesday, January 25 – Carolina Wild Seafood will be in Waynesville at HART parking lot from 8a.m. to Noon and in Asheville by the entrance to the French Broad Food Coop from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.  Call or text Bernie prior to that to place an order at 828-768-2376, or you can email him on his smart phone at bsmolnik@msn.com .

Saturday, January 28 – Madison County Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market will be open at the Madison County Extension Office from 10 to 2. (the office is on Carolina Lane in Marshall).

https://www.facebook.com/marshilltailgatemarket

Saturday, January 28, Barnardsville – Dillingham Family Farm Winter Market on Saturdays from 10-1

 

Saturday, January 28, Spruce Pine Farmers’ Market, 12-4 at Mountainside Wine.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spruce-Pine-Farmers-Market/10150116875830514

Do You know of other markets open now? Please leave a comment with info about them.

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Revel in our Local Abundance

Last week I rushed in to the market before work; I was on a mission to get goat cheese for my daughter to take to the beach (she and her friend Marika claim that Spinning Spider’s Rosemary-Fig Chevre is their very favorite, but they will eat others when pressed). I sped over to Anne Gaines Grier (Gaining Ground Farm) and got two pints of strawberries. One went to the beach, one I enjoyed tremendously. We have been eating strawberries for weeks now and that is just heaven. And no, I haven’t made anything like a pie. They haven’t lasted long enough.

And guess what? One or two blueberries in my yard are turning blueish…so blueberries will be coming in soon too. I almost forgot to mention the Currant Croissant I got from Farm and Sparrow Bakery. David made these last year, but I only saw them every now and then. Very, very, yummy and flaky. That was breakfast, and off to work I went.

The previous week, I actually was able to go to the West Asheville Market, the Wednesday Coop Market and the North Asheville Market all in one week. I hadn’t planned to go to The West Asheville Market, but it had been super hot all day long. I started daydreaming about those wonderful Popsicle. By the time I got there after work, she was out. Wah! That left me with a perfect excuse to get a bag of Roots & Branches Rosemary Crackers.

I had a big Tailgate Market list on that Saturday. My friend Nell is recuperating from a hip injury, so we got her a beautiful bouquet from Tuckers Gardens and some of Joanne Moore’s homemade shortbread. We got 2 pints of gorgeous strawberries from Vanessa (Full Sun Farm) and pound cake from Cathy Osada to go along with the strawberries. For our friend Judy’s birthday, we found some earrings that were made from glowing periwinkle-blue sea glass. The jeweler, Victoria Baker makes them with beach glass she collects in her travels.

Bouquet by Tucker's Gardens

Of course, goat cheese chevre was on the list. This is something our whole family adores. Amelia just posted a picture of baby Asher licking every last bit of chevre from a goat cheese container. How cool is that? Asher’s not even two years old yet!

Make a day of it tomorrow. The markets are hopping. The food is fresh and packed with vitality. The farmers and producers care. We live in an amazing spot with multiple great tailgate markets. Revel in our local abundance. Visit one.

 

 

Click here for the market list:

http://tailgatemarketfanclub.wordpress.com/market-list/

CHECK OUT Riceville Tailgate Market’s new location: Grace United Methodist Church parking lot, 954 Tunnel Road, Fridays, 4-7 pm.

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Marc’s ‘Wild Side’ Salad & True Nature Country Fair Pictures

Marc Williams' 'Wild Side' Salad Sources

Marc Williams intended to tell the STORY of the salad at One Bowl, the local food dinner given at True Nature Country Fair 2010.  Serving dinner to over 60 guests waylaid his intention, but he did manage to display a bit of information about his ‘Wild Side’ Salad for those diners who were paying attention.  With his permission, I stuffed his scraps of paper in my pocket as we cleaned up.  The torn bits of paper do tell the story, and Marc filled in a few details for me.

On Saturday morning, Marc swooped down on the North Asheville Tailgate Market and gathered his salad and dressing ingredients.  I imagine him conversing with each farmer as he filled his market bags.  He arrived at the True Nature Country Fair later in the day with an incredible salad and two delectable dressings.

Marc Williams' Salad Dressings

FOR THE SALAD ~

Flying Cloud Farm: Lettuce, Radishes, Arugula

Mountain Harvest Organics: Lettuce, Broccoli, Sweet Peppers, Parsley

Gaining Ground Farm: Carrots

Full Sun Farm: Watermelon Radishes, Chiogga Beets

Pearson Garden: Wood Sorrel, Knotweed, Basella

FOR THE TOMATO BASIL FETA DRESSING ~

Ron Gagliano: Tomatoes

Frank Tenerelli: Basil

Spinning Spider Creamery: Feta Cheese

Other ingredients:  Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sea Salt

FOR THE RASPBERRY BALSAMIC VINEGARETTE ~

Walter Harrill: Raspberry Jam

Haw Creek Honey: Blackberry Honey

Other ingredients:  Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Sea Salt

 

A little more of the story… Eve Davis had worked her magic by arranging flowers for each table…flowers donated by Meredith McKissick of Sweet Earth Flower Farm.  Set in a covered pavilion; candles twinkled on the tables during dinner, a nearby fire blazed, and the sounds of summer rose from the woods.  The band of musicians tore themselves away from their music long enough to share this meal.

Patryk Battle created a chunky Lamb Stew and Elizabeth Gibbs is famous for her delicious Candy Roaster Soup ~ both composed of local ingredients.  Candy Roasters are an heirloom “squash/pumpkin” that locals swear will make the very best pumpkin pies.  The soup was garnished with (my personal favorite) goat cheese.  I got in a conversation with two women; one was eating the Lamb Stew and her friend was having candy roaster soup. They tried each other’s entrees, and they both liked the one they had initially chosen the best.  Wonders never cease.

The Chocolate Lounge made dessert ~ an autumn tart set in swirls of chocolate and garnished with homemade whipped cream.  Are you jealous? There were two choices of Buchi; the one I tasted was pink, spicy and addicting.  Conversation was lively during dinner, and all the guests took home beautiful bowls that had been handmade by many generous local potters.

I didn’t think to whip out my camera during dinner and capture the beauty of the night, or the fabulous fare.  I did take a few pictures of some of the action and classes at the Fair.



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Weaverville Tailgate Market “Summer Sizzle”

It’s Summer Sizzle time at the Weaverville Tailgate Market. That means they are having a summer celebration that includes free ice cream for starters, and fun activities for the kids!  Angel Ridge Farm will be leading a felting project (as in wool felting).  Scribbles will be painting faces.  Just in case you don’t know…she does a marvelous job and kids love her.

Where is the Weaverville Tailgate Market? It is in the upper parking lot just above Lake Louise.  From Asheville ~ go down Merrimon Avenue toward Weaverville.  Eventually you will see Lake Louise on the left.  Turn in and look for the parking lot up above, and behind, the lake.  The Market runs from 2:30 to 6:30.

Other exciting news about this market ~ they have all the usual wonderful things like big heirloom tomatoes, bread, and goat cheese.  PLUS Dillingham Farm has table grapes, Long Valley Farm has apples, and Mackey Farm has rabbit.  I had some of Brenda’s grapes last year and I could not believe my good fortune at finding table grapes grown right here. Yes, they were delicious!

Scribbles and Her Fans

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Hobie Ford Performs & Great Market Day

Hobie Ford was at the North Asheville Tailgate Market today with his puppets.  I saw the caterpillar magically transform into a butterfly, the Great White Heron was preening, actually eating fish, and flying around.  Tiny elves were dancing on the fingers of children…and mine.  An otter cracked open a shell on a rock and ate it.  Kids and grownups were transfixed, especially one little boy about 3 years old…from the safety of his mother’s side, his eyes were riveted on the action.

Lots of people at the market this morning, coolish from the overcast skies.  I splurged on a bunch of stuff since my daughter is graduating from high school on Monday.  Yay for Julie Claire!

Today…flounder and scallops from Frank Tenerelli, Spinning Spider Creamery Fig & Rosemary Chevre , plus Lemon Chevre, summer squash (zucchini and sunburst), eggs, cucumber, Sunburst Smoked Trout, Cathy Osada’s family recipe Pound Cake (trying to wait to eat this for company), and fresh organic pasta.  Along with my garden produce, we should be eating luxuriously for the next few days!

Strawberries are pretty much done, but blueberries are coming in.  Missed out on most of the blueberries.  Vanessa (Full Sun Farm) sold all of hers to the French Broad Chocolate Company.  You’ll have to go there to find out what they do with them!

Full Sun Farm

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Give Thanks, Holiday Markets Full of Good Cheer

December 4, 2009

Dear Tailgate Market Fans,

Thanksgiving weekend we visited a thriving Wednesday Tailgate Market in Lexington, Virginia. Julie Claire test drove the sticky buns, and gave them a thumbs-up.  We bought a very tasty chunk of chipolte jack cheese, and shared it with Amelia and family.  They got equally excited about the Spinning Spider Creamery Chevre we imported from Asheville to Virginia as a special treat.  Included in our absolutely delicious Thanksgiving dinner were some mashed Yukon Gold potatoes from our garden, roasted butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and corn pudding held together with Blue Hill Farm eggs.  Truthfully, Amelia and Drew’s new baby boy, Asher, trumped all the food – in spite of the fact that every one of us loves to eat.

This weekend will be prime for visiting the markets. Think how Christmas-y you’ll feel with the cold weather.  Embrace the opportunity to be outside in possible snow, and get right in the market mood.  Then you can take your goodies home and spend a cozy day cooking in the kitchen, decorating your Christmas tree, and spreading good cheer. Imagine sitting by the fire with a hot cup of tea…wrapping up the unique presents you discovered at the markets – all locally & lovingly produced.

Here is the market schedule again ~

HOLIDAY MARKETS:

The Holiday Market will be open on Dec. 5th, 12th, and 19^th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  It is located above the French Broad Food Coop (In the Build-It-Naturally parking lot) at 76 Biltmore Avenue. This market has been established for a number of years and features many wonderful vendors not normally seen during the regular season.  Think beautiful handmade gifts, holiday greenery & wreaths, paperwhites, deluxe pastries, chocolates, fiber arts, pottery, sorghum & honey, brooms, and more – in addition to the regular seasonal items.

City Market will be in their holiday location at Pack Square in downtown Asheville on Saturdays, Nov. 28 thru Dec. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  (Even if the park is still partly closed; the market will be set up in the monument area – with many of your favorite vendors, plus Christmas items and gifts.  Remember to put money in the parking meter on Saturdays).

Wednesday Afternoon Downtown Tailgate Market is open from 2 to (dark?), and located above the French Broad Food Coop at 76 Biltmore Avenue (in the Build-It-Naturally parking lot).  This market will continue into December with meats, eggs, seafood, goat cheeses, some veggies, breads, pies and pastries, holiday wreaths, paperwhites, honey & sorghum, and more.

North Asheville Tailgate Market is open with some vendors through Dec. 19.  Christmas trees, wreaths,

Tom Elmore's Red Truck

greenery, and more.  For the best choice of trees, arrive early.  My super-fresh Christmas tree came from the North Asheville Market the last two years.  At UNCA from 8 – Noon.

Madison County Farmers & Artisans Market will be open Saturdays, Nov. 21-Dec. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., indoors at Fiddlesticks in Mars Hill.

Spruce Pine Farmers Market is open on Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Oak St. in downtown Spruce Pine.

Ashe County Farmers Market is open Saturdays, Nov. 21 – Dec. 12, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Back Street in West Jefferson.

If you know of others that I have not listed, please let me know.

Ruth Gonzalez

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